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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (April 25, 2018)
A6 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2018 ELECTIONS FAQ LETTERS What voters need to know about OSU Extension Service District By PHIL WRIGHT STAFF WRITER Umatilla and Mor- row County voters in the May election will decide whether to add two new tax districts to fund staff and operations for the Oregon State University Extension Service. Both counties have their own ballot measures that each propose a prop- erty tax rate of 33 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. Residents are asking questions about what this will mean. Pendleton City Council candidates even had to field a question about the Extension Ser- vice district at Thursday night’s forum. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions: How much will the tax bring in? The tax would raise approximately $1.7 million in Umatilla County and about $700,000 in Morrow County. It would pay about 25 percent of what the Exten- sion Service needs to oper- ate. Regional administra- tor Mary Corp said that is needed to help offset state funding cuts and meet a mandate to find local reve- nue to fill the gap. Over the years, she said, the Exten- sion Service has relied on multiple methods to meet that requirement, but none have been stable and sus- tainable. The new tax would fix that, she said. Who collects that tax revenue and where does it go? The county collects the revenue, and the funds stay there. Oregon budget law mandates the district’s tax revenue would get its own fund and not go into the county general fund. Corp also said the bud- gets from the two counties would remain separate “all the way until paying the bills.” What would the new tax revenue pay for? Both agricultural research and 4-H, though the specifics will be decided with each new budget. Corp said she could not pin down what percent of the funds would go toward 4-H, but the Extension Service is proposing to use the reve- STAFF PHOTO BY E.J. HARRIS Caleb Glenn, a 4-H member from Hermiston, washes the tail of his steer during the 2017 Umatilla County Fair. nue to expand 4-H educa- tion by adding a new edu- cational program assistant and a 4-H educator. Corp said the tax would not go to support administration. Could the tax revenue support building projects or improvements? Yes, but Corp and other Extension Service person- nel stated their plans are more about staffing sup- port and better equipment. Besides, Corp said, the local Extension Service lacks capacity for building improvements. How much would I pay in property taxes if this passes? Hermiston is under tax compression, mean- ing property owners will not see an increase in their taxes if Measure 30-126 passes. The new service district would cut into the revenues for other districts, including public safety districts. The tax rates are avail- able at www.co.umatilla. or.us/at/index.html. Who would oversee the new district? Umatilla County coun- sel Doug Olsen said the county board of commis- sioners would be in charge because the district would be a county service district, the only one in the county. Likewise, Morrow Coun- ty’s board would oversee the district there. County service districts are not the same as spe- cial districts, such as fire protection or water dis- tricts, which have their own boards of directors. County commission- ers also would appoint a budget committee for the district. Corp said Ore- gon law specifies the bud- get committee would have to consist of the three county commissioners and three non-board mem- bers. Again, one for Uma- tilla County and another for Morrow County. Umatilla County Com- missioner George Murdock said with similar districts in 25 of Oregon’s 36 counties, the county could look for a model “that is working well elsewhere should it become necessary.” An advisory committee would be part of the model, which Corp and others already formed. Could the county raise the rate? No. The measure calls for a maximum permanent rate of 33 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. That means the county board of commis- sioners could not increase the rate beyond 33 cents. County boards could seek less than the rate, however. What are the tax rates of the 25 other Extension Service districts? They range from 1.5 cents to 56 cents per $1,000. The local proposals would be the second high- est rate among the districts. Will the counties con- tinue to fund the district even if the taxes pass? Yes, in the short term. Olsen said should the dis- tricts pass, the tax collec- tion deadline is April 30, so revenues would not be available until 2019. Uma- tilla County is giving about $397,000 for fiscal year 2018-19, and Morrow County also plans to pro- vide funds. Morrow County for fiscal year 2017-18 gave about $167,000. How long the counties would provide the fiscal support remains a question. Givens a hard-working commissioner is working. Let’s re-elect Larry Givens! I support Larry Givens in his race for Umatilla County Commissioner. Although I do not know his opponent, I just can’t see the case for making a change. Larry has been a conscientious and hard- working commissioner, and has given of his time and energy over and over again on behalf of the citizens of this county. As a regular exhibitor at the Umatilla County Fair, I appreciate his efforts to get the fair up and running at its new location on Airport Road. Larry knew that we long ago had outgrown the old fairgrounds in town, and he worked with the City of Hermiston to develop the new fairgrounds out by the airport into a first-class facility. Last year’s fair, the first in the new location, was a great success. Whenever you go to a farm-related event, you will see Larry there. Whenever you have a problem involving county government, you can count on Larry to roll up his sleeves and try to address it. That’s why I think we should keep him in place, working for us in Umatilla County. Re-elect Larry Givens as our county commissioner! Numbers aren’t everything in judge’s race Eye Health & Vision Care Robert D. Rolen , O.D., LLC Optometric Physician 115 W. Hermiston Ave. Suite 130 541-567-1837 FAMILY DENTISTRY I urge the voters of Umatilla County to re-elect Larry Givens as our county commissioner. He has been a hard-working, hands-on commissioner who has devoted countless hours to help move Umatilla County forward. Larry is a life-long resident of this county. His experience as a teacher, school administrator and rancher, along with his proven ability to get things done, have served us well. The thing that impresses me the most about Larry is that he actually listens to people in a sincere way, identifies a problem and then sets out to find the best way to solve it, whether it is land use, economic development or a budget issue. I see no reason to change, just for the sake of change. Let’s keep what MENTAL HEALTH LET US BE THE ONE THAT HELPS! • Adult, Child and Family Therapy • Psychiatric Evaluation and Treatment • Mental Health and Crisis Services • Confidential and Professional Care LIFEWAYS PENDLETON Crisis Phone: LIFEWAYS HERMISTON 331 SE 2nd St., 595 NW 11th St., 866-343-4473 Pendleton, OR 97801 Hermiston, OR 97838 Office: 541-276-6207 WWW . LIFEWAYS . ORG Office: 541-567-2536 PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY 1060 W. Elm, Suite #115, Hermiston, OR Family Dentistry (across from Good Shepherd Medical Center) ~ N ew Patients Welcome~ Office Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-4pm www.apd4kidz.com Ryan M. Wieseler, D.D.S . COUNSELING HERMISTON FAMILY MEDICINE & URGENT CARE Sports & Dot Physicals • Minor Injuries • Family Care • Minor Surgeries We accept Medicare & some Advantage Medicare plans NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY HOURS: Mon.-Sat. 7:30am-7:00pm 541-567-1137 KITTEE CUSTER MILTON-FREEWATER WORSHIP COMMUNITY Re-elect Givens as county commissioner Call Today! URGENT AND FAMILY CARE I’ve heard that one of the judicial candidates for Umatilla and Morrow Counties has suggested that he is better qualified to be judge because of the large number of court appearances he’s made in the last year or so. I wouldn’t attribute any level of competence to just coming to court over and over again. I’ve been practicing law in Eastern Oregon for 18 years now. Coming to court repeatedly can mean that you haven’t done the job right, you aren’t prepared, or you weren’t thorough in investigating your client’s circumstances. Appearing repeatedly on the same case certainly increases your “appearance” count, but the only thing it really suggests is that the client is incurring a lot of attorney fees. HERMISTON 541-289-5433 541-567-8161 995 W. Orchard Ave., Hermiston PENDLETON MARIANNE SMELSER MEDICAL DIRECTORY VISION CARE BILL HAMPTON Quantity of appearances is no indication of quality of representation or of knowledge. Would you go back to the same doctor or mechanic or plumber if you never got well, or your car or plumbing continued to fail? Or perhaps a large number of appearances simply indicates that a lawyer has a steep learning curve, something I have personally observed in a few cases. It sure doesn’t bode well for a client that a lawyer needs so many hearings to get the job done. Do not be influenced by such silly, meaningless statistics. True professionalism isn’t measured by how many times you charge your client for appearing in court. Rob Collins is superbly qualified to be your next circuit court judge. He is a lawyer’s lawyer, recognized and respected by colleagues who hire him for their own personal cases. Join me in voting for Rob Collins for Circuit Court Judge. 236 E. Newport, Hermiston (across from U.S. Bank) To advertise in the Medical Directory, please call: Jeanne at 541-564-4531 or Audra at 541-564-4538 LANDMARK BAPTIST CHURCH 125 E. Beech Ave. • 567-3232 Pastor David Dever Sun. Bible Classes...................10:00am Sun. Worship Service..............11:00am Sun. Evening Worship..............6:00pm Wed. Prayer & Bible Study......6:00pm www.hermistonlmbc.com First Christian Church “Proclaiming the Message of Hope, Living the Gospel of Love” Sunday School 9:15am Worship Gathering 10:30 am Children’s Church 10:30 am 567-3013 775 W. Highland Ave., Hermiston The Full Gospel Home Church 235 SW 3rd Phone 567-7678 Rev. Ed Baker - Rev. Nina Baker Sunday: Sunday School........10:00 am Worship...................11:00 am Evening Service........7:00 pm Wednesday Service..7:00 pm “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” 1 Pet. 5:7 St. Johns Episcopal Church Join Us On Our Journey With Jesus. Scripture, Tradition and Reason Family service 9am Sunday N.E. Gladys Ave & 7th, Hermiston t. PH: 567-6672 We are an all inclusive Church who welcomes all. Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church 565 W. HERMISTON AVE. DAILY MASS: Monday-Friday ...............................English 7:00 am Thursday...............Spanish 6:00 pm SATURDAY:.........English 5:00 pm ...............................Spanish 7:00 pm SUNDAY:..............English 9:00 am ..........................Bilingual 11:00 am ..............................Spanish 1:00 pm Offi ce..............................567-5812 Grace Baptist Church 555 SW 11th, Hermiston 567-9497 Nursery provided for all services Sunday School - 9:30 AM Worship - 10:45 AM 6:00 PM Wed Prayer & Worship - 7:00 PM “Proclaiming God’s word, growing in God’s grace” 1520 W ORCHARD AVE Sunday Worship Service 10:30 am Classes for Kids @ 9:15 am SEEKING JESUS, SHARING LIFE, SERVING PEOPLE www.hermistonnazarene.org NEW BEGINNINGS CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP Worship Service 10:30 AM Sunday School 9:00 AM Pastor J.C. Barnett Children’s Church & Nursery Available 700 West Orchard Avenue P.O. Box 933 Hermiston, Oregon 541-567-8441 First United Methodist Church Hermiston 191 E. Gladys Ave , Hermiston OR Sunday Worship 11am • 541-567-3002 Nursery available Check us out on Face Book Worship Livestream at herfumc.com Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors Rev. Dr. Jim Pierce, pastor Seventh-day Adventist Church Saturdays Sabbath School........9:30 a.m. Worship Service......11:00 a.m. English & Spanish Services 567-8241 855 W. Highland • Hermiston To share your worship times call 541-278-2678
